Chapter 2 Flashcards
What is a theory?
A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained
Linguistic theories
Aims to explain why language developments
Learning theories
Aims to explain how children acquire language
Why theorize about language development?
Theories guide assessment and intervention
What does Nature mean?
Generative / Nativists theorize that we Genetically predisposed to acquire language.
What does Nurture mean?
Interactionist theorize that Environmental influences acquire language.
Generative / Nativists Approach
Basic syntactic rules located in the “Language Acquisition Device (LAD)” in the brain help humans learn language specific syntactic rules
What are the Two rule systems?
Universal system
Language-specific system
Noam Chomsky (1950s) theorized?
children are born with innate syntactic rules or principles that help shape the structures of human languages
Roger Brown (1973) theorized?
Children abstract information based on meaning-based units to help shape what they produce
Interactionalist Approach
Rather than beginning with rules, child uses language input to attempt output and notices regularities (rules)
Learning Theories
Behavioral
Cognitivist
Social
constructiveness
Behavioral Learning Theory
B.F. Skinner (1957): Caregivers model language, in turn the child imitates that model, and is reinforced by the parents for correct imitation
Universal Language
We all have the ability to abstract information. (used by Chomsky)
Language specific system
the organization of the language one is exposed to (used by Chomsky)
Reinforcement
when behavior is continued
Positive Reinforcement
when something is given to continue behavior
Negative Reinforcement
When something is taken away and the behavior continues
Punishment
The behavior reduces in frequency or stops all together
Positive Punishment
Adding something and the desired behavior decreases
Negative Reinforcement
something is taken away to increase a behavior
Cognitivist Learning Theory
Jean Piaget (1950s): Learning occurs as the learner adjusts his or her mental model to adapt new experiences
Schema
Mental representation of items and events based on our experiences
Accommodation
Modifying existing schemas or creating new ones
Assimilation
Using existing schema to incorporate new information
Language Learning Mechanics: Cognitivist
Child builds schemas based on experiences > When a child encounters a new experience, they make sense of the world by doing one of two things > Assimilation,
Accommodation
Language Learning Mechanics: Behaviorist
Adults provide language models > Stimuli/Behaviors- Child imitates direct model Or Child initiates the conversation > Response
The adult reacts to the child’s behavior > Consequence- Adult reinforces the behavior, the behavior continues Or punishes the behavior the behavior stops
Social Constructivist Learning Theory
Lev Vygotsky (passed in 1934, work recognized in 1970s): Knowledge is constructed within social contexts through interactions with a knowledge individual(s).
Zone of Competence
What the child can do independently.
Zone of Incompetence
What the child is unable to do even with assistance
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD):
Competence that a child demonstrates with minimal assistance (Teaching within the ZPD is key to maximizing learning)
Language Learning Mechanics: Social Constructivist
Caregiver identifies what the child can do independently > Caregiver sees what the child can do with some support
Jerome Bruner (1980):
children learn language from interactions with their environment
